DENVER — Texas Democratic leaders praised Joe Biden as a straight-talker but acknowledged he wasn’t their first choice — or perhaps even second — to add punch to the party ticket.

And Texas Republicans said the pick wouldn’t ignite Texas independents and conservatives to embrace other statewide or local Democratic candidates.

Many Democrats, perhaps unrealistically, were hoping for Bill Richardson, a Hispanic governor from a neighboring state; Chet Edwards, a homegrown Waco congressman, or Hillary Rodham Clinton, who won the Democratic primary vote in Texas.

“I don’t know how much someone from the northeast helps or hurts anyone from Texas,” said former House Speaker Pete Laney, a conservative Democrat who knows virtually every district in the state.

“If we had our picks it’d be a Chet Edwards or Bill Richardson,” he said.

But hopefully the Delaware senator might win some enthusiasm for plainly speaking his mind, Mr. Laney said.

“Texans like someone who will speak their mind, even if they might disagree with them,” he said.

Boyd Richie, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, said that although he was disappointed that the choice wasn’t Mr. Edwards, “that does not detract in any way from my excitement over the fact the he chose Biden.”

He added that mainstream Texas Democrats will to relate to Mr. Biden’s working-class background and his straightforward answers.

“It’s a wonderful choice,” Mr. Richie said. “He’s very frank, very open, there’s very little guile in this fellow. “You might not always like what he tells you, but he’s gonna tell you how he views the truth, and believe me, this country is sorely in need of someone who speaks the truth,” Mr. Richie said.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Mr. Biden has a great personality but has veered too far left on Supreme Court nominations and the environment to woo independents and moderate Republicans.

“Barack [Obama] has picked somebody that’s darned near as liberal as he is,” Mr. Cornyn said. “On issues like judicial nominations, I mean, he voted against [Chief Justice John] Roberts and [Justice Samuel] Alito.”

Mr. Biden also has opposed more offshore oil drilling, when public opinion has swung the other way, Mr. Cornyn said.

“He’s a very affable guy,” Mr. Cornyn said. “I think he’s a lot like Barack — personally very engaging, but … his voting record is liberal.”

Mr. Cornyn’s Senate race opponent, Rick Noriega, said Texans will relate to Mr. Biden’s Senate record, which includes passing a crime bill that put 100,000 more police officers on the street.

“He’s clearly a guy that talks straight and gets things done,” said Mr. Noriega, a five-term state representative from Houston.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, supported a 2007 proposal by Mr. Biden to carve Iraq into ethnic enclaves. Hutchison spokesman Matt Mackowiak declined comment on the selection of Mr. Biden.

Garry Mauro, who headed Mrs. Clinton’s Texas campaign, said Mr. Obama’s choice has its merits.

“Joe’s got a lot of friends in Texas and for those people who were concerned about foreign policy experience on this ticket, that question was just answered,” he said.

Mr. Mauro, a former state land commissioner and Democratic nominee for governor, said many voters are transplanted from the northeast and Mr. Biden’s faith will resonate with the large Catholic population, especially in South Texas.

Still, he said selection of Mrs. Clinton “would have had the biggest impact nationally,” and Mr. Mauro’s other personal favorite was Mr. Edwards.

“For Texas, I think he would’ve been the best choice and I think he would’ve been a great vice president,” he said. “So I’m disappointed about both of them not being the VP, but I sure can’t complain about Joe Biden.”

Neither can Hans Klingler, spokesman for the Republican Party of Texas.

“The Democratic ticket is now two liberal senators from far away lands that have no ties to Texas,” Mr. Klingler said.

Neither Mr. Obama nor Mr. Biden will inspire Texas independents and conservatives.

“Conservative voters in Texas were given a gift. Now whoever [John] McCain picks will give such a contrast in record, ideology and approach that it’s really going to gin people up to support the Republicans.”

Texas House Democratic Caucus Chairman Jim Dunnam of Waco argued that Texans will relate to Mr. Biden’s ability to “cut to the chase and not beat around the bush.”

“He’s plain-spoken, and that’s what we’ve seen in Texas that I think is responsible for the Democrats’ re-emergence,” he said. “And I personally think that people respond to somebody that will tell it like it is and get rid of the political double talk.”

That said, Mr. Dunnam still would have loved his congressman, Mr. Edwards, on a national ticket.

“But I don’t think you’ll have disappointment in Texas over Biden,” he said.

Staff writer Karen Brooks contributed to this report.